Airline Operations Ground Staff Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000048)

Plain-English Summary

Who does this award cover?

The Airline Operations -- Ground Staff Award covers employees performing ground-based work at airports and airline facilities across Australia. If you work as a baggage handler, ramp worker, check-in agent, airline customer service officer, aircraft maintenance engineer, stores worker, or airport operations coordinator, this award applies to you. It covers roughly 35,000 workers at domestic and international airports.

This award does NOT cover flight crew (pilots, cabin crew), air traffic controllers, or airport terminal management staff employed by the airport operator rather than the airline. Cabin crew fall under the Aircraft Cabin Crew Award (MA000047) and pilots under the Air Pilots Award (MA000046). See clause 4 for the full coverage rules.

Four classification streams

The award has four distinct streams: Aviation Transport (baggage handling, ramp operations, driving), Clerical Administration and Support (check-in, customer service, administration), Maintenance and Engineering (aircraft engineers, ground equipment mechanics), and Storepersons and Logistics (warehousing, freight handling, supply chain). Each stream has its own classification levels. Your rate depends on which stream you fall into and your level within that stream.

Shift work is standard

Airport ground operations run around the clock. The award provides detailed shift penalties including separate rates for early morning shifts, afternoon shifts, and night shifts. Continuous shiftworkers (those who rotate through all shifts including weekends) have different overtime provisions than non-continuous shiftworkers. The Christmas Day and Good Friday penalty is also higher than for other public holidays.

Classification Levels and Base Rates

All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.

Aviation Transport Stream

Clerical, Administration and Support Stream

Maintenance and Engineering Stream

Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38. Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25 (clause 11.1).

Penalty Rates

All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate (clause 27 and clause 31).

Full-Time and Part-Time Day Workers

Shiftworker Penalties

Casual Employees

Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. The loading is built into the multiplier.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the Christmas Day and Good Friday penalty higher than other public holidays?

The award recognises that Christmas Day and Good Friday are particularly significant holidays. Permanent employees working on these days receive 275% of their base rate, compared to 250% for other public holidays. This higher rate acknowledges the greater personal sacrifice of working on these days. See clause 36.4 for the full public holiday provisions.

2. What is the difference between continuous and non-continuous shiftworkers?

Continuous shiftworkers are those whose roster rotates through all shifts (day, afternoon, night) including weekends as part of a continuous 24/7 operation. Non-continuous shiftworkers work shifts but not on a continuously rotating basis. The distinction matters for overtime calculation: continuous shiftworkers have all overtime paid at 200%, while non-continuous shiftworkers get 150% for the first 2 hours and 200% after that.

3. Do ground staff get a uniform or laundry allowance?

The award provides for a laundry allowance where employees are required to launder their own uniform (clause 17). Many airlines provide uniforms directly, in which case the laundry allowance still applies if you are responsible for washing them. The amount is set by the award and is adjusted annually.

4. What is the minimum engagement for casual ground staff?

Casual employees must be engaged and paid for a minimum of 3 hours per engagement (clause 11.3). At Level 1 Transport casual rate ($29.98/hr), the minimum payment for any casual engagement is $89.94 gross. This applies even if the airline only needs you for a single turnaround.

5. I work split shifts at the airport. How is that paid?

Split shifts (where your working day is broken into two or more separate periods) are permitted under the award but must be paid as a single engagement with all hours counted towards your daily total. If your total hours for the day exceed 8 (or your agreed daily hours), the excess is overtime. The break between split shift periods is not paid time unless your employer requires you to remain on-site. Check clause 22 for split shift provisions.

Check Your Rate

Working as airline ground staff? Use our free calculator to check your exact rate based on your classification stream, shift pattern, and employment type.

Check your pay rate now

Select your stream (transport, clerical, maintenance, or logistics), enter your level and shift details, and get a breakdown of your exact pay -- including the night shift loadings and public holiday premiums specific to airport operations.

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• name: "Airline Operations Ground Staff Award MA000048 Pay Rates July 2025"
• description: "Classification levels and hourly pay rates for airline ground staff including baggage handlers, check-in agents, and maintenance engineers"
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• creator: Fair Work Commission
• license: CC BY 4.0

Breadcrumb Schema

Home > Awards > Airline Operations Ground Staff Award (MA000048)

Rates current as of 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission, CC BY 4.0. This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. Always verify rates against the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) at calculate.fairwork.gov.au.